TG Taekwondo

(July 2014 Review) My son just received his junior black belt in Taekwondo before we relocated to El Cerrito. Came here in hopes to find a new place to continue, so he took one class with the advanced junior class. They played hip hop music and were not very serious; just not what we are used to. As I was watching in obvious disbelief, the owner comes to me and asks if this was the type of instruction my son was used to? When you enroll your kid in a new school, do they ask you if the classwork is correct? No. You are the student, they are the teachers — end of story. My son did over 5 years consecutive to get his Junior Black, which is the belt you receive if you are under 15 and was anxiously awaiting to receive his Black because he earned it. When we told the Master in charge that he was waiting to turn 15 for his International Black Belt, he said that he could get it for him now. Are you kidding me? We respectfully declined the offer and future classes.
So basically, if you want to pay your way up the belt scale and get a work out to hip hop music, somewhere where the kids and family can have some extra activity time, then this is the place for you.

TG Taekwondo is the best school in the El Cerrito area. The staff is very friendly and professional and create a comfortable workout environment for all ages. Classes are available for all ranks whether you’re a beginner or an advanced belt. I love training here because the students are friendly and supportive and the instructors make training and sweating fun. I’m excited to test for my blue belt next week and get my work out on! See you in class!

This place is amazing! My daughters have learned discipline in a totally supportive environment. The teachers are serious, but they make the classes fun at the same time. Great exercise and great for coordination too. Love it.

Our son was 6 when he started, he’s 8 ½ now and has his red belt. Master Min and his instructors have done an outstanding job. Not only are they skilled black belts, but they are terrific teachers. There is much laughter and good cheer at TG Taekwondo that is balanced with a structured teaching regimen. Very high quality content — You see the results. This has been why our son has remained committed to his martial art. He has learned not only taekwondo, but also self-​control, which has enhanced his self-​esteem. He was not into team sports, but at TG Taekwondo the instructors make the kids feel like there are all a team together. I would highly recommend TG Taekwondo.

When my son was in 1^st grade, there was a kindergartner that would repeatedly find him on the playground and knock him down. I saw it happen one day and decided it was time for a little empowerment program. We told our son we wanted him to do martial arts & he could choose his «brand.» He had friends at TG that liked it very much so he said that was where he wanted to go. In less than 2 weeks the boy that knocked him down — stopped. It isn’t that my son had blocked him or was going after him — it was that he had a stronger sense of himself and his own boundaries so the junior-​bully left him alone. There are numerous hidden benefits from martial arts: focus, concentration, self-​confidence, agility… to name a few. In a short period of time, we could see how these traits were coming through, it was wonderful to watch it unfold. The teachers at TG are kind and compassionate and truly enjoy working with the kids and Master Min is a gem — he is loving and direct, understanding and can push — all at the same time. They also understand that they are children and they know how to make class fun and engaging. My son can quit after he gets his black belt –until then, we will keep going.

When my son was 4 years old, he decided he was going to be the yellow Ninja Force Power Ranger when he grew up, therefore, he really needed to get his kicks in. Several of his preschool classmates were enrolled at TG Taekwondo and thought it would be cool if he did it too. Knowing nothing about this martial art, I was concerned that my sweet child would suddenly turn into an aggressive dervish who kicked like a mule across the schoolyard. Lucky for me, TG Taekwondo is just a few steps from Trader Joe’s in the El Cerrito Plaza, so I could surreptitiously walk by with a cart full of those peanut butter pretzels (yummy!) and watch a class in action. What did I see? A bunch of happy, focused kids.
He’s been a student for almost five years now and it’s as natural as breathing. The poise and confidence he’s gained from studying at this school is worth the price of tuition alone, but the classes are great, too. They’re grouped by ranking, with different time slots dedicated to a small range of belt levels, i.e. yellow-​orange, etc. This allows the masters to tailor each class to the abilities of their students.
The owner, Master Min, is very approachable, warm and friendly. He cares about his students and his school. He also really knows his stuff (I have this on good authority from several students who attend the adult class). I feel that if I have any issues, I can talk to him and he’ll take my concerns seriously. Recently, we’ve been struggling with sparring. It’s one thing to learn a form, but to put that form into action and work with a partner is much harder than it looks. A lot of kids –and probably even some adults– lack the maturity to understand it’s not about whacking on your classmate, anyone can do that, it’s about learning effective technique. Sensitive, competent teachers are critical to a student’s safety as they move to a more competitive level. I like that the masters here will pull a child aside and work with him or her individually if s/​he needs extra help or a confidence boost.
TG Taekwondo has recently added Korean kendo to its schedule. My son hasn’t quite reached the level where he can participate, but he’s close and really looking forward to it. I’ll come back with an update when he does.
As an aside, for anyone who may have read my other review and wondered why my son and I do a different martial art, suffice to say I’m not so old that I don’t get the horror, from a kid’s point of view, of having ‘mom’ around … Oh, and though he hasn’t fallen out of love with kicking, he’s focusing his future toward the arts.

My 5 year old son started taking lessons about 2 months ago. He absolutely loves it. First of all, taekwondo is just the perfect activity for kids his age. They have to kick and punch and yell, all within a structure-​perfect! Second, the owner and the instructor are great. The instructor (or master) is very encouraging, firm and affectionate. I feel like my son is learning this ‘dicipline’ with a thoughtful approach. Taking taekwondo lessons has really boosted my son’s confidence. I feel really good about the enviorment and the staff. I could not ask for more. I also love supporting local small businesses. If you are looking for an activity for your child that is great exercise, will boost their confidence and teach them valuable life lessons, then T.G. Taekwondo is for you.